20 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



over it. As AVC were lying off the Bass on our return on 8th 

 October we saw some fluffy white young ones still on the 

 ledges, and also old birds flying about with large bits of sea- 

 weed in their bills. 



HERON, Ardea tinerea. Seen on the rocks most days during our 

 stay. 



MALLARD, Anas boschas. Two or three were seen on four separate 

 occasions. We found a drake almost out of eclipse plumage 

 lying dead below the telephone wire on 4th October. 



TEAL, Querquedula crecca. Single birds were seen on the 28th and 

 2Qth September, and the ist and 2nd October. 



EIDER, Soinateria mollissima. A good many in the sea off the 

 island throughout our stay. There were drakes in many 

 interesting stages of eclipse plumage. On 5th October a 

 considerable influx of full-plumaged drakes took place, and 

 more arrived on the 6th. On this latter date the birds were 

 very noisy, grunting and cooing loudly.! 



WOOD-PIGEON, Cohimba painmbns. One flew off the west cliffs 

 towards the north on the 2yth September. 



WATER-RAIL, Rail us aquaticus. One was got on the 26th October 

 by Mr. Maccuish and sent to us. 



GOLDEN PLOVER, Charadrius pluvialis. One seen on the i5th 

 September (W. wind, light) had still traces of a black breast. 

 Another was seen from the ist to 3rd October, and one 5th 

 and 6th October. 



LAPWING, Vane Hits vulgaris. One was seen in the lantern rays on 

 i ith September and remained on the island for the two follow- 

 ing days. The next was seen on the 2 ist, and five were flying 

 over from north to south on the 25th. From this date till 

 yth October we saw them constantly about the island, in greatest 

 numbers on the 3oth September, after hearing them calling a 

 great deal on the previous night. 



TURNSTONE, Strepsilas interpres. Seen frequently about the rocks, 

 in greatest number on the 28th and 29th September. On 

 4th October we saw a Turnstone swim a short way in the 

 harbour and then flutter on to a rock, where it stood, looking 

 very draggled. 



OYSTER-CATCHER, Htzmatopits ostralegits. Seen frequently about the 

 rocks. A pair had evidently bred there, as on i4th September 

 we saw a young bird hardly able to fly at all. On several 

 occasions we saw them in the rays of the lantern. 



SNIPE, Gallinago ccelestis. Single birds seen on the i3th and 26th 

 September and the ist October respectively. 



